Spirit of Christmas Facts

Prior to Birth of Christ other civilisations had significant ceremonies at the same time of Christmas (winter solstice give or take a few days/weeks with changing calenders)

These ceremonies continued on even after Christianity developed. Christianity had no special celebration for Christ's birthday until around 360 AD when there was a decree to celebrate Christ's birthday. It was an attempt to appropriate the other celebrations in typical Christian arrogance.

However many of the customs of the non-christian celebrations continued.

During the reformation the protestant churches banned the celebration of christmas.

The Christmas that we celebrate has an amalgam of societal celebrations from the Roman pagan days to the Nordic (Santa Claus).

Why is it that ignorant Christians are always trying to impose their will on the way that other people live and celebrate their lives.

slasher, good points. I had heard similar previously but had not seen the detail.

Kay, there are two groups you could be refering to
- Non christains who have no reason to celebrate the birth of Jesus (except some muslims such as FH who may)
- Those who choose not to celebrate Christmas/Xmas etc.

If your question is about the first then the reasons I can think of are
- Christmas/Xmas is something other than just a celebration of Jesus birthday. See slashers post for some historical context and consider that the celebration has become a time for families to get together, to do some things which we often don't do at other times of the year. I don't know how well defined that stuff is but it has become an important part of our society, there are other reason's for the season than Jesus.
- It's not real easy to avoid the holiday even if you want to. Laws govern how people are paid etc. Plus we tend to like days off. Non christains having days off for what are billed as christain holidays are not doing anything different than republicans having time off for the Queens Birthday, pacifists having Anzac day off, anti-unionists having Labor day off, people who don't go to their local show having as show day off. The days off are seen as part of employment conditions.

Those who don't celebrate any form of Christmas/Xmas are probably covered by that last point.

R0bert

Hi there Slasher and RObert

Just threw my post in for a stir! Naughty eh?

Hope you both had a great Christmas. We did.

We are helping out a disadvantaged family. We only spent $50.00 extra on our usual fortnightly shopping. The family consists of a divorced Mum with no husband support, and four little ones. They all have behavioural problems due to their father's physical abuse. Mum and the second boy who has autism and ADHD went home this am. We now have the oldest boy - who is only 9 years sound asleep at 10.00pm.

He was trying to fight sleep at 9.50 - not tired! After a day on the river fishing, and then in the swimming pool with me after dinner - home made pizzas were great - he is now purring away. It is still 30C here on the verandah and hotter in the house I think.

Giving to this wonderful little boy is our Christmas.

Cheers all
Whoopie for the New Year to all of you
Kay